Overview

This extensively updated and revised edition of In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T. of Making Babies addresses the key issues and concerns of infertile couples. Written by one of the top in vitro specialists in the country, this book discusses in plain language everything couples need to know about IVF. From how to locate and choose the best IVF programs to what to expect as you go through the process, this book will prepare couples for the complex and emotional IVF journey. Included here are:

 Conditions that negatively affect fertility, such as sexually transmitted diseases, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, and immune system conditions Surrogate motherhood, egg donation, and other third-party parenting options Detailed discussion of ovulation and the influence of age on egg quality Ethics in fertility technology, including the recent controversies over cloning

This book provides extensive technical guidance to couples who are considering in vitro fertilization, allowing for a more well-informed life changing decision.

Product Details

About the Author

Geoffrey Sher, MD, is the founder and executive medical director of the Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM), as well as the director of SIRM-Las Vegas. Dr. Sher is an internationally renowned expert in the field of IVF and assisted reproductive technology (ART). He has been influential in the births of more than 15,000 IVF babies. Over the last thirty years, he has helped fashion the entire field of ART, establishing the first private IVF program in the United States in 1982. He currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Virginia Marriage Davis, RN, MN, was a former medical practice consultant, family nurse practitioner, and lecturer.

Jean Stoess, MA, is a freelance developmental editor, writer, and a member of the State of Nevada Board of Examiners. She lives in Reno, Nevada.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2013In vitro fertilization (IVF), often the last, best hope for infertile couples, is complicated and costly, so those considering it need detailed, accurate information to guide their decisions. This updated edition of Sher's work will help them understand their options and make educated choices. In the first chapters, Sher (Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine), family nurse practitioner Virginia Marriage Davis, and freelancer Jean Stoess cover reproductive anatomy and physiology and all stages of IVF: acceptance into a program, preliminary testing, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo assessment, and embryo transfer. Subsequent chapters address causes of infertility and treatment options, realistic expectations for IVF, choosing an IVF program, common questions and concerns, and ways to make IVF more accessible, effective, and affordable. The authors approach controversial issues (e.g., selective reduction) nonjudgmentally, focusing on medical rather than moral aspects. While most of the book seems to refer to heterosexual couples, a section for same-sex couples takes a positive perspective of the issue. VERDICT The complicated, in-depth explanations of medical and physiological processes may challenge all but the most medically literate readers, but this level of detail should help consumers make more knowledgeable decisions and perhaps improve the odds that they will become parents. Recommended for infertile couples and anyone who wants to learn more about IVF.—Janet Crum, City of Hope Lib., Duarte, CA